Sound-box.



A C. DIBHL.

SOUND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1910.

1,073,408 Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

INVENTCR I I ATTORNEY loin so rrsn srArEs Psi ,llliBl lLT D. IlIEHL, OFGAIVIIDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNGE, T "VICTOR ICALKINQ:

Mi-KC'HINE GOMPANY,

A COBPURATIQN OF NEW 3 SOUND-BOX.

fipecification of Letters leaent.

' Application filed August 31, 1310. Serial No. 579,338.

erence being had to the accompanying drai "lhis invention particularlyrelates to the mounting or gasket which holds the diaphragm of a soundbox by engaging the opposite iaces of said diaphragm.

'lhe principal objects oi this invention are to provide simple andeilicient means for supporting the diaphragm in sound boxes, coinpr' 'nga plians mounting embracing said d1, )lllilglll, and having opposedsharpened hearing edges which lightly engage the opposite feces of saiddiaphragm in hair lines concenrric with and adjacent to its periphery,and which provides a uniform free space surrounding the circumferentialedge oi? said diaphragm; to provide means to rel diaphragm mounting; andto provide 1 ,ns so prevent distortion of the sharpened of saidmounting, and to prevent "the adjustment of said retainer, effecting};excessive pressure upon each of said hearing edges.

The form of siylus mounting herein shown is merely selected forconvenience of vilhis r1ration end iorins no part of this in-.

veniion, one is claimed in a separate applicw, 'iion, Serial. No.579,835, filed August 3-1., 1910.

The form of this invention hereinafter described, provides a sound boxdiaphragm vvi. 1 a pliant or elastic mouniing which comn-lees nunit-airy annular gasket embracing the edge of said diaphragm, and havinon inle nil-undercut groove, providing a 0 gmnel ruining onnnlarshoulders, the edges or rims of which engage lightly the opposite Ill,inal faces of said diaphragm in hair lines concentric with the peripherythereof; e sound. box casing, providing a sect, don said. morn-ding; anda back plate or cap ior ssid sound box provided with a ch-am'fered end agroove concentric therewith, s; e circular ridge arranged so retainrooming in the seat provided thereior, gaging it, between the innerandouter its lateralwall, thus eliecting the between is and the some nprwsorc centrally around or the soondhon cssing, to @Glflldlfi thegeslret Wall, and permitting the margins of said mounting to bedistorted into the recesses formed by said groove and chaintfered edge,whereby the sharpened rims or" the annular shoulders lightly engage theopposite faces of the peripheral margin of said diaphragi'n.

This invention further includes all the various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the accompanying; is a side elevational view of a sound ho};embodying a convenienl; form of this inven tion', Fig. 2 is a centralvertical sectional View oi said sound hoX taken on the line 2-2 in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged frag nientary sectional view of the structureshown in Fig. 2; Fig. i is a fragmentary sectional View of a slightlymodified form of diaphragm mounting and Fig. 5 is c fragmentarysectional view of another inodified form of mounting.

In theforin of his invention shown in Figs. 1 to 23 inclusive, the soundbox casing 7 is provided with the usual circular aperhire 8, andcomprises a removable back or retaining cap plate 9 having the hollowboss 10 for its convenient telescopic connection with the goosencclr ofthe swinging arm or a talking machine, {not shown.) held retrainingplate 3 is conveniently secured to said casing? by the screws ll whichare in threadedengagemeni with the casing T, and which have their headspreferably countersunk into the exterior surface of said plate. Thesound hos casing 7 provides a seal: 12 for the gasket 1A which forms themounting for the diaphragnrldond which is annular in form, and comprisesthe internally broad-- ened or undercut groove 16 providing; an airnular rectangular channel 18 forming the shoulders or rims 19 whoseopposed she '13-- drawings, Figure l ened edges E20 are formed by therounded 15 in hair lines, and as shown in Fig. 3,

the inner surface 2% or the outer eral- Wall oi said moon from thecircumferential ed diaphragm. 15; the said well 25 having Q go 23 ofsaid outer surfiace so of only sufficient clearance lrie inner Wellspaced casing in Fig. 3.

of said gasket. It will 14 to be readily slipped into the seat providedtherefor in said casing 7. As best shown in Fig. 3, the mounting 14 isretained in position by the circular ridge 32 which is formed ontheinner face of the retaining plate 9, by the chamfered edge 33 and thecircular groove 34 concentric therewith, thus affording an annularbearing projection for engaging the mounting 14 at, a comparativelynarrow region centrally disposed between the opposite edges of thelateral face be noted that by reason of the narrow bearing surface ofthe. ridge 32 which bears upo the mounting l4, suiiicient space isprovided by the groove 34 and the chamfered edge 33; upon the respectively opposite side's'of said ridge for the reception of the portion ofthe mounting 14 which extends thereover, as best shown inthe fragmentaryview Fig. 3, and "ends to prevent the pressure effected by engagement ofthe ridge 32, from materially broadening theiline of contact, of thesharpened edge 20, with the diaphragm 15, which broadening of contact,if not prevented, would tend to dampen the vibration of the diaphragm.The vibration of the diaphragm 15 is effected by its connection with thestylus needle 37 through the'stylus mounting 38 and stylus bar 39, andit has been found that by reason. of the minimum contacting suface ofthe mounting constructed as. above described, a greater volume of sound,and 'a clearer tone is emitted from said diaphragm, than from diaphragmswherein the contactlng surface of the mounting is disposed over agreater surface area, or wherein the edge of the diaphragm is not free.

The form of this to 3 inclusive, the mounting 40 with the sharpenededges a1 shoulders 41-2 is provided formed by the and the surfaces 43,which latter conform to the surfaces of opposed Fig.- 5, the mounting 50is provided with the undercut groove 51 which is formed y opposite'inwardl curved surfaces 52,

mounting 14, as best shown inthe ph -agm said diaphragm mounting50 isengaged in the sound box casing, the ridge 32 of' the. plate 9 will bedisposed oppositeithe. linesof contact of the groove surface-52 with theopposite sides of the diaphragm15, and any pressure of the plate 9'uponsaidmounting will not affect the-hairline contact, but

will be effective to distort the i'nounting 50 in the samemanner as themounting '14:

is distorted, aslshown in Fig. 3.

It is; to b-e-observed that; the groove in the interior face or side ofthe gasket subinvention shown in Fig. 4 is substantially like that shownin Figs. '1

extending to the be tom of the channel formed: there, y, and isotherwise similar to the dia- It will be noted that when stantiallydivides the gasket into a base;

groove for the reception of the diaphragm erati've to rigid gagem'ent ofsaid cumferen tial 1S under-cut, that is to; say the groove e2;- tendsin a direction parallel to the axis of the gasket and'c'oncentr'icallyot' the gasket, and thus providing in the inwardly extending portions orclamping members above referred to, a region or portion which is moreflexible than a portion members nearer the axis or center r in teriorofthe. gasket. The said on ercut groove therefore makes a relatively thin.

)ortion in each otfthe inwardl I extendin b portionsabove referred to,which thin portion is, .more flexible, yielding or pliant, transverselyof said gasket, than a portion of said gasket. This feature ofconstruction is presentinall of the variousqttiqrms 6r modifications ofmy invention asfiltustrated in the drawings. I f

It is not-desired to, limit thisinvention to the'preci'se details ofconstruction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious thatvarious modifications may be'made therein without departing-from theessential features of the invention aszdefined in the appended claims. I

aving thus described my inventibh, I

claim and desire to protect by Letters Pat- .ent of the Unitedistatesz-I a 1.111 a sound. box comprising a 'casing, the combination withadiaphragm, of a mounting. for. said diaphragm, "comprisiiw a pliantannulus embracing said diaphragm, and having thegreception ofsaid-margin, formed; by-

opposed transversel y convex 'gimsflenga ge' ing the opposite facesofsaid diaphragm andprovid-ingairee'space' aroundgtheciredge oit'sald-daphragrn, and means comprising'a retainer havm fananfi nular ridgedregion 1 in pcontac't, w th said .moun ting opposite thefhn'e ofengagement member nearer the center of the th e-'.margin o a channel.for

so i of said clamp ng or said mouu'tmf gwith said diaphragm op-f 1said'casing, without varying ne lineen;

12.2 11111:; sound box comprising a casing,

' receive said 'margin,

the combination with a a plant annulus, loosely fitted in saIdcasing,embracing. the margin of said diamounting with' said diay gretain sa'i'd,mountin in iaphragm, of a -'mounting for said diaphragm, comprisinglnra m and havin a channel arran ed to P e g semicircular rims, engagingthe opposite faces of said diaphragm, and a wall spaced formed} byopposed girl , substantially opposite the line of engageedgeo'l'f sold LV o hermit, the lateie Wei e11 its inner and outer edges,

merit of said lllfil'lllillilg with solid diaphragm.

in a sound bolt comprising :1 casing], the combination with a diaphragm,of o ii oilnt g for mid diaphragm, comprising i whet embracing the edgeof said it and having; opposed bearing rims on phrz in; o, clmmtci edge,centric there no to '10 the opposite tacos of said di=i- 9 and aretaining; plate hav lint o.

mooiitm ce for .oii'mti on, W 1th y prewar rlil-iphrey n' pliant cnrconrin, and nderciit orcntiel tiol edge forming opgom v the ()TllUfil'ii-loil E: eeid dioo heir to zidimtcot to in; edgg" will ing; cla m 7 "idedwith. o circole rail ed to l wed. hot, enlist retain the some i freeridg ge side Well 0 said rid/n tortio'o r v the on .lli oomed 2icomm-lei havinplane we l for. r o a socket and llfir' l euberoiitiall.ci'lli rvolle e cyi poeiteiy di e eidee cit Jeri 4.,7 iridriczil outerwall spoeed. rims eogor the said ogre eo oceet no; plote proi L .1 :1 r1wronged to eoqooe one plane in re o t iiioiri m; opposite do him ch ll:51

1 l Q l l ing eoid diaphragm, of a pliant comprising a Sflll'l.diaphragm tier-cut chenr'iel forming opposed annular l ire of contforming semicircular annular rims embroc diaphragm, and retaining meanscomprising an annular flange in contact with said mounting substantiallyopposite eoid rims.

box the combination with a mounting therefor member embracing andprovided with on on- '?l in 11 sound unit ery abotii'leiits contactingwith said diaphragm, and retaining means comprising an annular flange in(:oiit'ict with one side of said mounting eohetontiolly in oliiiemeiitwith said abutment;

lit] it sound box the combination with e rm oi: iicxible mountingtherefor o limiter rounder member prom1 under-cot choimel the sideschomiel. "'lfrming annular rims emllflpllifiglll near its periphery rwith its opposite sides in retaining plate having an ii 1a g 'eiiientwith one of the ices 01'? said inoiinti'og substantially opposite theioee of contact of said mountii with 55 id diaphragm.

9. in e sound boil the coinliiimtion with a casing comprising ocyliiidritmiin socket haviiig; oplonc Well, of diaphragm, a plieiii'tmounting for said die 'ihrogjm. having lg id e liClJE in substantiallyplane lateral wells and a cylindrioel outer walh "and h rims engegiosaid dierihregm e if and. a, ret iiiilor rid letero :iviolll oppositelydiethe opposite sides of uce'o't to its periphery, rig plate providedwith an ane 211111152; i to engage one of the oils oi? solid mountingopposite the ct oi": said engaging rims with said diophre in andorreiigl ec'l to hold the other o'l 'd. lateral wells or dust the planewill. oil stud socket. V

10. In it sound box the combination with o casing; compri log a,cyllndrifomi socket l ing a. plane We ll bi e diaphragm, a plimoorsting;ior eoid diaphragm having Lilli 'SUlfJSl'Still-hilly plane lateral wellsand; :1V (ii lindrical outer wall, end having; oppositelydisooed rim-eengaging: the opposite sides of said diephromn adjacent to itspei'ipl'iery, and fret 11153; plate prox'idcdwith an onniiler rld earranged to engage one of the lateral Walls of said mounting; oppositethe line of conteci; oi? said ongz'egingz rims with mid dioplireggjin,arranged to hold the other oti said lillG :11 Wells against the planeWall of said eocketend operative to contact said cylindrical wallet saidmounting with the cylindrical Well of Said socket Without altering theline of contact of said rims with said diaphragm.

11. In a sound box, the combination with e diaphragm of a comparativelybroad rigid support and a comparatively narrow rigid onnuier supportspaced from and upon op With the opposite a substantially circular lineonly, both of posite sides of said diaphragm respectively, annularyielding means having a comparatively bro-ad, annular surface in contactwith saidcomparatively broad support and en-. gaging said diaphragm in asubstantially circular line only, and annular; yielding means contactingwith said narrow annular support and also contacting side of saiddiaphragm in said yielding means contacting with said diaphragm and saidrelatlvely narrow-1 support contacting with said yielding means inengagement therewith in. alinement.

12. Ina sound box the combination of a diaphragm an annular gasketcomprising a body portion having a cylindrical outersurfaceand twoportions extendinginwardly toward the xcenter of said gasket, one ofsaid inwardly extending portions of said gasket being provided with achannel arrangedconcentrically of said gaskehand ex- .tending in depthin a direction substantial-ly parallel to the axis of said gasket toform athin region in said inwardly projecting portion betweena partthereof nearer the centerof the gasket and the body portion'oif saidgasket, a casing having a circular-recess with a flat bottom surfacewithin Which'said gasketsnugly fits with one lateral face s ated againstthe said bottom surface off'said recess and means secured to saidcasingand engagement "With that inwardly extending portion of saidgasket having the said thin region to press the said inwardly extendingportion""a'd acent I thereto toward the other'ofjsaid inwardly prisingtransversely. I bers adapted to engageopposite sides of a projectingportions of'said gasket.-

13.. A diaphragm mounting consisting of a unitary gasket of yieldingmaterial corn' spaced clamping memdiaplir'agn'i, andia base connectingthe outer porti'ons'ofsaid 'clainping'members, one of said gclain'pi'memembers having ajregion ere tending parallel. to said base which 'ismore ,pliable' transversely of said member than a I i portion o'f; saidmembernearerthecenter'ofi a unitary gasket otyielding material, com-,-

reception of a diaph said gasket, Wherebyitofiatise the aasktto exertlocalizedpressureon the. diaph ragm.

14."A diaphragm-mounting COnSlStlQg Of' prising abase d;aamvemely'spacedf clamping members iexte nfclin v parallel to" said base andprovidn ing' a regionon outside of said 'grooveextending around said pliabletransversely-of said gasket than'a portion of said member-extendingsubstancomparatively tending in depth in a direction gasket beingprovided s a groove for the, mm", said gasket havgasket, which is moretiallyparallel to said region on the same side of said groove betweensaid region and a tree edge of said member, whereby to pause the gasketto exert localized pressure on the diaphragm.

j 15. A diaphragm mountingconsisting of a gasket, of yielding materialadapted to bear againsta side of a diaphragm, said gasket having aweakened region extending around the same which is more pliabletransversely of said gasket than a portion of 111,9; a-Weakened regionextending around the" I gasket which is more pliable transversely ofsaid gasket'than a portion of said gasket located inside of said region,whereby to cause-the gasket to exert localized pressure on thediaphragm.

17. In a sound boxthe combination, with a diaphragm, agasket of yieldingmater-in adapted to bear against a side of therdiaphr'agm, said ga-skethaving a weakened re gion extending around the samewhich is more pliabletransversely of said gasket than a portion of said gasketjyextendingsubstantially parallel to and located" inside of said, region, and meansfor pressing said phragm. i v 18. In a sound box the combination of acasing including ahollow'member having a "inner portion laterallyagainst said diasubstantially cylindrical inner surface and an open endand formed With a flat interior Wall facing said end, a unitary gasketof yield ins material having a substantiallycylindrical peripheralsurface engaging the inner and flat side faces,

surface of said member, one of which'bears against said will, said w tha groove, a diaphragm seated in said groove, and'means secured to' th eopen end of said- "ln testimony whereof, Ir hereunto set my tbi tth. d-s eam s C Witnesses: I i v FRANK B. MIDDLETON, Jn,

CHARLEsF. WILLARD,

in its inner 'E'surface member and' 'bearing, against the otherflat-side of said gasket folf pfesslng the same against sald diaphragm-It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,073,408, grantedSeptember 16, 1913, upon the appiication of Albert (J. Diehl, of Camden,New Jersey, for an improvement in Sound-Boxes, an error appears in theprinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2', line125, for the Word plant read pliant; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of October, A. D], 191- I R. T; FRAZIER,

[SEAL] Acting Commissioner of Patents Correction It is hereby certifiedthat in Letters Patent No. 1,073,408, granted September 16, 1913, uponthe application of Albert C. Diehl, of Camden, New Jersey, for animprovern'ent in Sound-Boxes, an error appears in the printedspecification ret uir ing correction as follows Page 2, line 125, forthe Word plant read pliant, and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conforni totherecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of October, A. D., 191 [mg I R. T,FRAZIER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents, I

